Challenger Space Shuttle Disaster: How our Ethical Stance as Engineers Impacts the Life and Death of Others As engineers, we are not only responsible for our own safety but also the safety of those around us. Safety precautions, such as personal protective equipment and engineering checks, are regularly being updated and improved in order to better the wellbeing of those we put at risk. One case study which shows engineering checks were not used in a manner which aided the safety of other employees is the 1986 Challenger Space Shuttle, where seven astronauts tragically lost their lives. (107 words) The Principles of Engineering Ethics The Engineering Council is the regulatory authority for engineering professionals in the UK. They have …show more content…
Over its 9 successful missions, Challenger broke numerous records such as the first shuttle to host a crew including two women, the first shuttle to launch and land during the night and the first shuttle to land at the John F. Kennedy Space Centre. On Challenger’s 7th mission, 14 out of 15 experiments carried out were a success. The Challenger Space Shuttle had become the reliable shuttle NASA had hoped for and the nation proudly watched it succeed. After Challenger’s 7th flight, serious charring of the O-rings on one of the solid rocket booster was discovered. A similar scenario had previously occurred in the solid rocket booster of another of the shuttle fleet’s spacecraft, the Discovery. After postflight investigations, it was concluded that cooler temperatures (53°F at Discovery’s launch) resulted in the O-rings sealing ability to decrease. [4] As shown from the diagram below, the solid rocket boosters were made from multiple components sealed together by rubber joints known as O-rings. As the solid fuel in the solid rocket booster began to burn, the joint would bend. The O-rings were in place to flex, within reason, along with the joint to prevent any fuel or gases